Educators Turned Unschoolers
Do you like the idea of homeschooling but have a few doubts? Not sure if you are up to the task? Feeling under-qualified? Or maybe you are hoping that a progressive education will equate to the same thing. Now if only you can find the right school……
My episode guest, has many years of experience working in progressive education. Lesley Jones-Sessler is an educator and a former school administrator now turned unschooler. You can find her on her blog, Watch Monkey Mama to learn more about her family’s unschooling journey.
When it came time for Lesley to begin looking for a school for her son, she was saddened by the lack of schools that fit the bill for progressive education in the state of Indiana. After a visit with their local public school, Lesley was also dismayed by the lack of diversity in the staff of the local school system. And then, Covid hit. Lesley decided that homeschool was now the most viable option. Little did she know she would find herself down the beginning of a rabbit hole of life learning.
After hours researching various homeschooling methods and philosophies, Lesley stumbled across the match for her family: the self directed learning community.
In This Episode
In This Episode Lesley and I explore the lines of school, homeschool and unschool. We break down:
- Vocabulary terms in education- What is the difference between traditional vs progressive schooling? We discuss the Traditional viewpoint of – Authority, Lack of choice, Teaching to the test and drill and kill. Versus Progressive Education- Multi-age teaching, flexibility, hands on and child directed.
- Child Led Learning vs Self Directed Learning within Progressive Schools- Are they one- in- the same or is there a difference? Do both happen in progressive education?
- Lesley shares examples of what learnings look like in their home
- The power of “letting go” in unschooling
- Is it harder for educators to let go and unschool? We discuss her Deschooling process and how she shuts down negative self talk- ( you know that little voice of doubt and fear that we can all experience, coming from within and the outside? )
- The two types of naysayers- and why understanding those types helps us to choose our response or reactions (or lack of) to them
- Having an accountability partner and advocate- why her sister is the biggest gift to their unschooling experience
- Lesley’s advice to educators that are considering homeschooling
Resources
Reach out to Lesley through her blog- Watch Monkey Mama or on Instagram- @watchmonkeymama
How To Be An Awesome Homeschooler Summit- https://howtobeanawesomehomeschooler.com/
Patreon Community– Become a patron~ https://www.patreon.com/honeyimhomeschoolingthekids (Don’t forget that starting this May, you can join the community for monthly live meet-ups through Zoom)
Other episodes mentioned- Building Literacy At Home
